The Fool’s Christmas
By Florence May
On Christmas eve, the king, disconsolate,
Weary with all the round of pomp and state,
Gave whisper to his Fool: “A merry way
Have I bethought to spend our holiday.
Thou shalt be king, and I the fool will be—
And thou shalt rule the court in drollery
For one short day!” With caper, nod, and grin,
Full saucy replied the harlequin;
“A merry play; and sire, amazing strange
For one of us to suffer such a change!
But thou? Why all the kings of earth” said he,
“Have played the fool and played it skillfully!”
Then the king’s laugh stirred all the arras dim,
Till courtiers wondered at his humor grim.
And so it chanced when wintry sunbeams shone
From Christmas skies, lo! perched upon the throne
Sat Lionel the Fool, in purple drest,
The royal jewels blazing on his breast.
On Christmas morning too, the king arose,
And donned with sense of ease, the silken hose
Of blue and scarlet; then the doublet red
With azure slashed; upon his kingly head
That wearied oft beneath a jeweled crown,
He drew the jingling hood, and tied it down.
All day he crouched among the chill and gloom
None seeking him—within the turret room.
But when calm night with starry lamps came down
Her purple stairs—he crept forth to the town
His scanty cape about his shoulders blew,
Close to his face the screening hood he drew.
He knocked first at a cottage of the poor,
And lo! flew open wide the door—
“We have not much to give, dear fool,” they said,
“But thou art cold; come share our fire and bread!”
With willing hands they freed his cape from snow
And warmed and cheered him ere they let him go.
And so’t was ever: By the firelight dim
Of many a hearth stone poor they welcomed him;
And children who would shun the king in awe,
Would scamper to the door way if they saw
The scarlet peak of Lionel’s red hood.
“Dear fool” they called him loudly, “thou wert good
To bring the frosted cake! Come in and see
Our little Lishelk—hark! she calls for thee!”
And so’t was ever. On his way the king
With softened heart saw many a grievous thing:
But love he found and charity. And when
He crept at dawn through palace gates again,
He knew that he who rules by fear alone
May sit securely on his throne;
But he who rules by love shall find it true
That love, the milder power, is mightier, too.
“Dear fool”, he said, “thou art the king of hearts insooth;
The king of hearts! Today no farce but truth!
For I have seen that thou, beneath my rule,
Hast often played the king,—and I the fool!”